If you love the outdoors, you don’t need an excuse to go on a hike, but National Trails Day on June 1 is a reminder of all the great hiking opportunities we have right here in our backyard.

It’s also a chance to participate in a variety of events and help out with stewardship projects. Sponsored by the American Hiking Society, the event is the country's largest celebration of trails. The special events and programs listed below are all scheduled for June 1, but check websites for other opportunities to take care of your favorite trails. And not to put too fine a point on it, but this is a great hands-on way to show your kids how much the environment means to you, while also having a lot of fun!

Community Cares for Kennedy ParkKennedy Park in Lenox is a popular for hikers, skiers, dogs, mountain bikers and horse-back riding. Activities planned for Trails Day include trail maintenance, group hikes arranged for easy, intermediate and advanced hikers. Guides will lead each ability level through the trails suitable for their level. There will also be a kids’ hike, nature games, and scavenger hunt. Kids will clean up the picnic area, build a stick sculpture, and make a journal to take home. Food and music will be available at the end of the day for the participants.

Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Cross-Island HikeEach year since 1993, the land bank has observed National Trails Day by conducting a day-long hike across the island to expose people to the network of trails that connect the island’s many conservation lands and public properties. This is a day-long, guided hike that differs each year and is usually less than 20 miles. Many participants select only a portion of the hike’s itinerary to walk. Even hiking a small section with your kids will be rewarding and you may just learn about some new trails.

Appalachian Mountain Club
AMC has scheduled several trips and volunteer opportunities on June 1 around the region, from rock-climbing clinics to clearing trails. Just visit the AMC Activity Listings page and select “More Options” to filter activities by state, date, activity type, and more. There are plenty of other teen- and adult-only volunteer trail crew opportunities in the White Mountains, NH, Berkshires, MA, and Baxter State park and Acadia National Park, ME, if you can’t make it on June 1. No experience is necessary, and all the tools you'll need are provided in most cases.